XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon

The XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon (ACSW) is a developmental 25 mm belt-fed Grenade Machine Gun with smart shell capability. It is the result of the "OCSW" or "Objective Crew Served Weapon" project. It is lightweight and designed to be two-man portable, as well as vehicle mounted. The XM307 can kill or suppress enemy soldiers out to convert|2000|m|yd|0|lk=on, and destroy lightly armored vehicles, watercraft, and helicopters at convert|1000|m|yd|0. The project was canceled in 2007. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m307.htm]

Overview

The system is under development by General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products for the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). As a part of the "Small Arms Master Plan" (SAMP) program, it is intended to either replace or supplement the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher and the M2 heavy machine gun. It fires 25 mm point-detonating and air burst style ammunition, including HE, and HEAT at a cyclic rate of 260 rounds per minute and has an effective range up to 2 kilometers. [http://www.gdatp.com/Products/Gun_Systems/XM307/XM307.htm General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products - XM307] ]

The primary advantage of the XM307 is its attenuated recoil system. The weapon controls recoil to a degree that a large tripod and heavy sandbags are not required to effectively employ this weapon. Because of this reduced recoil impulse and light weight, other mounting options are also possible such as small unmanned vehicles and aircraft. The XM307's airburst rounds make it much easier to bypass walls protecting enemies that could cause collateral damage if fired upon directly. Operators do not have to shoot through the wall, just through an opening or over the top to kill the people behind the cover, leaving the structure of the building intact. An additional advantage of the XM307 is that it can be converted into the XM312, a .50 cal version for infantry and light anti-armor support in under two minutes.

pecification

* System weight: 50 lbs (22 kg) (Gun, mount, and fire control).
* Fire Control: Full solution, day/night.
* Portability: Two-man portable & vehicle mountable.
* Rate of Fire: 250 rounds per minute, automatic.
* Dispersion: Less than 1.5 mils, one sigma radius.
* Range: Lethal and suppressive to 2,000 meters.
* Ammunition: High-explosive air bursting, armor piercing, and training (HE, AP, TP, TP-S).

Variants

A Remotely Operated Variant (ROV) for the Future Combat Systems family of vehicles is also under development. [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/11/xm307-madeuce-replacement-gets-more-investment/index.php XM307 Ma-Deuce Replacement Gets More Investment] ] The weapon system, which would be mounted on the vehicle, will be remotely operated from within the vehicle.

Program status

* May 2004 - The development phase is funded through FY 2007.cite web |url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m307.htm|title= XM307 Airbursting Weapon System - Advanced Crew Served Weapon|accessdate=2008-06-10|date= 2008-04-07|publisher= GlobalSecurity.org]
* December 2005 - Funding granted for ROV variant.

References

ee also

* LAG 40 grenade launcher - automatic grenade launcher used by Spain.
* Vektor Y3 AGL - automatic grenade launcher of Spanish origin.
* Heckler & Koch GMG - A 40 mm automatic grenade launcher used by the German Army and other European armed forces.
* XM174 grenade launcher
* XM312 - (.50 BMG version of the XM307)
* Mk 47 - A 40 mm grenade launcher, also replacing the Mk 19 in some roles.
* Barrett XM109 - An anti-materiel sniper rifle firing the same ammunition as the XM307 ACSW.
* XM25 - A 25 mm low velocity smart cannon/grenade launcher for an individual soldier.

External links

* [http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/future-weapons/weapons/zone2/xm307/xm307.html Discovery Website - Must see the XM307 video clip!]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m307.htm M307 Airbursting Weapon System Advanced Crew Served Weapon - Global Security]
* [http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl24-e.htm XM307 ACSW Advanced Crew-Served Weapon - Modern Firearms]
* [http://www.gdatp.com/products/PDFs/XM307.pdf General Dynamics: Fact Sheet on the XM307]